of syracuse



H. J. MOREY July 2,1929.

PULL SOCKET Filed Oct. 13, 1924 Patented July 2, 1929.

inane star HARRY. J'. MOREY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO PASS & SEY MOUR, INQ, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PULL SOCKET.

Application filed October 13, 1924. Serial No. 743,487.

This invention relates to sockets for incan descent lamps and more particularlyto those sockets having a self-contained switch for controlling the current to the lamp.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a switch socket means for placing the switch operator at the same potential as one of the current carrying wires supplying current to the lamp.

It is a further object of this invention to provide ina switch socket means for placing the metallic sh'ell thereof at the same potential as one of the wires conducting current to the lamp.

A still further object of this invention is to provide, in a pull chain socket for incandescent lamps, means for electrically connecting the chain guide to one of the current conducting wires within the socket.

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification is disclosed one embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that various changes and modifi cations in size, proportion and arrangement of elements may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the attached claims. In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a socket constructed according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the socket with the shell and cap removed;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3'-3 of Figure 2 showing the shell in position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the binding terminals and its associated parts; Figu1'e'5 is a perspective view of the chain 7 guide;

' Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the insulating sleeve in position.

Then the ordinary form of electric socket,

. having a switch incorporated therein, is used 'in medium potential circuits, there is often danger of the person operating the switch receiving ashock, especially if at the same time they are standingon, or touching, a metallic obiect, such as a water pipe, steam radiator, or standing onwet ground. In order to obviate this difficulty, it has been required in some States that the fixture upon which the socket is mounted be connected to ground. Other States is uire the fixture to be perms neatly insulate. from gieand. The appl cant has found, however, that the most satisfactory solution of the problem consists in the use of the usual two wire distributing system, one wire of which is permanently at ground potential, either at the generating station or at one of the distributing transformers where alternating current is used. This wire is then connected by means of the device of this invention to the switch handle or operator and also to the shell of the socket, and thus all exposed metal portions of the socket and the fixture to which it is attached are permanently placed at ground potential and at the potential of one of the wires of the circuit. Preferably and conveniently this grounded wire is attached to the screw shell of the socket. since it is this shell which contacts with the exposed portion of a lamp base when it is being placed in position in a socket.

Reference to the drawings discloses a common form .of pull chain socket enclosed within the tubular metallic shell 10 and covered by the cap 11, by means of which it may be attached if desired to a fixture. The shell 10 and the cap 11 are linedwithan insulating sleeve 12 formed of fiber or other suitable 'material, and fitting tightly therein is the main portion of the socket 13 comprising the spaced insulating buttons 14 and 15 housing between them and serving to support the pull chain switch mechanism 16 of any convenient or well known type. The insulating button 15 has supported thereon and insulated thereby from each other the two contacts for the lamp, the center contact 16 being connected to one pole of the switch and the screw shell contact 17 being connected directly to one of the is a section on line 66 of Fig. 3;

binding terminals of the socket. I The insulating buttons 14' and 15 are preferably formed of porcelain or other suitable insulating material and are held in position andjspaced apart by means of the two binding terminals 18 and 19 composed of U- shaped straps of sheet metal, having the arms of the U suitably secured to the buttons and being electrically connected respectively with one of the switch terminals and with the screw shell. Each of these binding terminals carries a suitable binding screw 18"19 adapted to engage and retain in contact therewith one of the wires of the circuit carrying current'to the lamp.

The bindm terminal 18 is of the usual construction as described, but bias.

terminal 19 is adapted not only tosupport the chain guide 20 but also to electrically connect it toone of the wires leading to the socket. For this purpose, the parallel arms 21 and 22 of thebinding terminal which are fastened to the insulating buttons are cut away asshown at 23 to provide the arcuate recesses which are adapted to receive and tightly hold therein the curved arms 24 on the base 25, which supports the conical chain guide 20. The center portion 2(5v of the binding terminal 19 is provided with the slots 27 through wnich the ends 28 of the arms 2 are adapted to pass to securely clamp these arms in position and prevent their direct withdrawal from the slots 23. However, by retating the whole chain guide in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, it. may be readily removed from engagement with the binding terminal. This engagement forms the sole support for the chain guide, and the depending lip 29 thereon prevents clockwise rotation when it engages againstvthe outer edge of the lower button 15. An extended arm 30 provides a support for the binding screw toconnect a wire to the It will be seen that the meterminal 19. chanical. engagement between the chain guide and the binding terminal provides also an electrical connection between these two parts and thus serves toplace the chain guide and the chain whichpasses througlrit at the samepotential as one of the wires leading to the socket, which, as previously explained,

should be grounded.

In order to. place the socket shell at the same potential as the chain guide, the insulating lining is cut away along the edges of the chain guide slot in the shell as shown at 81, in order that the metal adjacent the slot may be pressed down, into engagement with the plate 25 of the chain guide when the cap 11 is pressed on andcompresses the end of the shell, which construction is best illustrated. in Figure 3. i

From the foregoing it will be evident that this invention provides a-Hnovel, simple and convenient means for placing the switch op erator, which may be a; chain, key, push button, or any other of, thevarious types, in electrical; connectionwith a grounded wire in the circuit leadin to the lamp, and which also provides an efiective means for placing the shell of the socket at the same potential, andthus removes thepossibility of the person using the socket of obtaining a shock.

Having thus describedmy invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by U. S.

Letters Patent is:

. 1. A socket for an electric lamp, including in combination, a conductive enclosing shell,

a contact shell therein forthe lamp, an insulating sleeve between said shells, a second contact for the lamp, a, binding screw for each contact adapted to receive a conductor,

and means to electrically connect one ofsaid contacts to said enclosing shell. v

2. A socket for an electric lamp, including in combination, a. conductive enclosingnshell,

a contact shell therein for the lamp, a secondcontact for the lamp, a binding screw for each contact adapted to receive a conductor, and means to electrially connect said con tact'shell to said enclosing shell.

3. A socket for an electric lamp,including in combination, an enclosing shell, a contact shell therein for the-lamp, a second contact for the lamp, a binding screwfor each contact adapted to receive a conductor, a switch interposed between one of said contacts and its binding screw, an operator therefor adapted to pass. throughsaid enclosingshell, and a guide for said operator electrically connected to one of said binding screws.

4. A socket for an electric lamp, including in combination, a conductive enclosing shell, a contact shell thereinfor the lamp, a second contact for the lamp, a binding'screw' for each contact adapted to receivea conductor, a switch interposed between one'of said contacts and its binding screw, an operator therefor. adapted, to pass through said enclosing shellfa guide for said operator electrically connected. to. one of said binding screws, and means to causeelectrical connection betweensaid guide and said enclosing shell.

5. A socket for an electric lamp,including in combinatlon, a conductive encloslng shell,

aninsulating liningtlierefor, a pair of spaced insulating buttons therein, a. screw shell and a center contact carried by one of said butsulating buttons therein, bindingterminals, V

connecting. and. spacing said buttons, a screw shell andcenter contact for a lamp carried by one of said buttons, a pull chainswitch betweensaid buttons and interposed between one of said, binding terminals and said center contact, a connection between said other binding terminal and said: screw, shell, and a chain guide electrically connected; to said other binding terminal. v

7. A socket for an, electric lamp, including in combination, aconductive enclosing shell,

an, insulating lining therefor, a pair of insulating buttons therein, binding terminals connectingand spacing said buttons, screw shell and center contactiora lamp carried by oneof said buttons, a pull chain switch between said buttons and interposed between one of said binding terminals and said center contact, a connection between said other binding terminal and said screw shell and a chain guide electrically connected to and supported by said other binding terminal.

8. A socket for an electric lamp, including in combination, a conductive enclosing shell, an insulating lining therefor, a pair of insulating buttons therein, binding terminals connecting and spacing said buttons, a screw shell and center contact for a lamp carried by one of said buttons, a pull chain switch between said buttons and interposed between one of said binding terminals and said center contact, a connection between said other binding terminal and said screw shell and a chain guide electrically connected to said'other binding terminal, said chain guide adapted to electrically contact with said enclosing shell.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY J. MOREY. 

